Kathleen C. Ahlers, age 93, of Cold Spring, died on Friday, March 10, 2000 at the Somers Manor Nursing Home.

Born on November 2, 1906, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary Faye Sullivan. Mrs. Ahlers was the widow of the late Carl A. Ahlers; he predeceased her in 1973.

Mrs. Ahlers was a retired professional secretary for the president of Gristede’s Brothers in New York, NY; a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in the Highlands, and a charter member of the New York State Secretaries Association.

Survivors include one cousin, Norma Renner of Texas, and many close friends.

Funeral services took place on Tuesday, March 14, 2000 at St. Mary’s Church in the Highlands, Cold Spring, with the Rev. John G. Mills officiating. A private cremation followed at Ferncliff Crematory in Hartsdale, NY.

Interment of ashes will take place on March 23, 2000 at 1:30pm in Cold Spring Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Clinton Funeral Home, Cold Spring.

Hope Baldwin Lanier

Hope Baldwin Lanier, Psy.D., age 56, noted area psychologist, tennis player and mother, died at home on February 27, 2000 of pancreatic cancer.

She is survived by her husband, James A. Lanier III, Ph.D., her children Hope (Holly) Lanier Miller, David Ludwell Lanier, MD and Andrew Lee Lanier; her grandchildren Jackson David Miller and Lainey Hope Miller; and her siblings Mary Ludwell Baldwin, Ph.D. and William Ludwell Baldwin III.

The daughter of Lois Elaine Kibler and William Ludwell Baldwin Jr., she was born in Norfolk, VA and grew up in Garrison, NY. She graduated from Mary Baldwin College, received a Masters degree from William and Mary, and earned her doctorate in psychology from Rutgers University.

A founding partner of Cape Fear Psychological & Psychiatric Services, she was a respected and valued counselor. Her achievements as a psychologist follow successful careers as a college professor, English teacher and author of several books.

A lifelong avid reader, she took profound pleasure in literature and discussion. She was a devoted member of the book club that she so loved.

She will be remembered for the quality of her relationships with family and friends.

A memorial services was held at St. James Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations of time or money be made to the church, the cancer society, or the hospice organization of the givers’ choice.

Whitney Travis

Whitney Travis, a longtime resident of Garrison, died on March 1, 2000. He was 80 years old.

Mr. Travis, born in Peekskill, NY, was the son of E. Whitney and Helen McCutcheon Travis. He was graduated from Peekskill High School in 1938 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University in 1942. From 1943 to 1946 Mr. Travis served as an officer in the US Army Medical Corps in the European Theater of operations. Throughout his career Mr. Travis served as a private club manager for several organizations. He was the resident auditor at the Bear Mountain Inn and general manager of the Yale Club in NYC. He also served as general manager of the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, on Wall Street in NYC, for many years before retiring in 1985.

Mr. Travis was a 32nd degree member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Cortlandt Lodge #34, and was honored as a fifty-year member in 1997. He was past president of the Ye Host Square Club.

Mr. Travis was a member of the Cornell Hotel Society, national president of the Club Managers Association of America in 1979, and a member and president of the Club Managers of the City of New York, and a member of the Metropolitan Club Managers Association.

Mr. Travis was married to Marjorie Travis on February 1, 1947 in Peekskill. He was a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in the Highlands, Garrison, NY.

His wife, Marjorie, sons John Whitney and Brion, and daughter, Elizabeth Travis-Grasso, all of Garrison, survive him. Two grandsons, Robert Whitney and John Alexander Travis, and a sister, Jane Travis, also survive.

The family is requesting donations in Mr. Travis’ name to either the Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps, POB 121, or the Garrison Volunteer Fire Dept., POB 252, Garrison, NY 10524.

A private service was held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Garrison on Saturday, March 4th. Arrangements were by the Dorsey-Carlone Funeral Home.

Paul B. Rieckhoff

Paul B. Rieckhoff, age 88, died February 19, 2000 at his residence in Garrison.

He was born on January 6, 1912 in Hamburg, Germany. He had resided in Philipstown for the past 45 years, coming from the Bronx. He worked as a mechanic/repairman for the US Post Office in Manhattan for 29 years, retiring December 20, 1974. He was a WW II Army Veteran and a member of the VFW Post in Garrison.

On January 21, 1939, he married Catherine Galella in the Bronx. She survives at home.

He is also survived by a son, Paul of Garrison and two grandsons, Paul J. of Manhattan and Michael of Garrison.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, February 22 at St. Columbanus Church, followed by interment at the Assumption Cemetery, under the direction of the E.O. Curry Funeral Home, Peekskill.

Born in Croton on Hudson on May 16, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Pauline (Grasso) Ciccarelli.

Mrs. Ruzich was a homemaker and a resident of Cold Spring since she was 1 year old. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Loretto Church.

She is survived by her husband, Frank Ruzich of the home address; three sisters, Mary Dillon of Cold Spring, Angela Miccio of Fishkill and Marie Chicarella of Cold Spring; many neices and nephews, great-neices and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by one brother and one sister.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, February 18, 2000 at Our Lady of Loretto Church in Cold Spring. Interment followed at Cold Spring Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Ruzich’s name may be made to the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Philipstown's newspaper

Published by Elizabeth Ailes; edited by Douglas Cunningham. The only real newspaper, in print and online, for Cold Spring, Philipstown, Garrison, Nelsonville and Putnam Valley. 845-265-2468. Check our free community site at putnamcountybugler.com, too.